> What is apparently missing is better handling of the> uncorrectable errors. Specifically the ability to pass the> errors and warnings up to the OS for evaluation and for the> OS to be able to request a block remap or to undo a block> remap.

Why this suggestion keeping coming up, I have no idea. If you takethe idea to it's extreme, it's basically saying that we shouldoff-load all processing on to the host. Although there has been amove towards dumb peripherals in recent years, (E.G. software modems),I have seen almost no even vaguely convincing arguments other thancost as to why they are superior, (lower latency has been mentionedwith regard to software modems - I fail to see the benefit, although Isuppose it might exist for games players). Apart from some datarecovery applications, I don't see how it is possible to do anythingreally useful simply by adding the ability to pass some warnings anderrors up to the OS, without giving the OS access to all of the datathat the drive firmware has access to.

Obviously drives with completely open and free firmware would begreat, but that is not likely to happen in the near future, so for thetime being, if you don't like the way drives handle defect management,complain to the manufactuers. I am satisfied with the way Maxtordisks handle defect management, both Eric's explainations and my ownobservations.